JP6845875B2 - container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to containers, but is not particularly limited, to containers for snus smokeless tobacco products.

Snus tobacco is sold in loose or permeable bagted portions and packed in a portable container with a resealable lid to retain snus moisture during product transportation, storage and display. Has been done. Snus is usually consumed by placing it under the upper lip for a long time.

In some embodiments of the invention, a container comprising a main body and a lid defining a chamber for the receptor is provided, some of the container being released into the chamber and the receptors in the chamber having sensory stimulating properties. Is provided with a sensory substance that imparts.

In one example, the main fuselage may be part of a container with perceptual material.

In another example, the lid may be part of a container with perceptual material.

The portion of the container with the sensory material may be the inner surface of the chamber.

Separately, the container may include a permeable layer arranged between the portion of the container provided with the sensory substance and the chamber.

The container may contain a material containing a perceptual substance.

The container may be provided with a perceptual substance and an inner layer formed integrally with the container may be provided.

The container may include an insert that is housed in the container, which insert contains perceptual material released into the chamber.

The insert may be housed within the main fuselage of the container, the insert defining at least a portion of the inner surface of the chamber.

The insert may be shaped to match the internal shape of the main fuselage so that the insert is housed in the main fuselage and covers the inner surface of the main fuselage to define the chamber.

Alternatively, the insert may be shaped differently from the internal shape of the main fuselage so as to cover only a part of the inner surface of the chamber.

The insert may be shaped to match the internal shape of the lid so that the insert is housed in the lid and the insert covers the inner surface of the lid to define the chamber.

The insert may be housed in a recess formed on the inner surface of the chamber.

The chamber may contain one or more receptors.

The receptor may be a smokeless tobacco product.

The receptor may be a snus tobacco product.

The receptor may be snus tobacco.

The container may be pocket-sized.

In some embodiments of the invention, an insert for a container for a receptor is provided, the insert is housed in the container and released into the chamber of the container, a sensory substance that imparts sensory stimulating properties to the receptor in the container. It has.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a method of imparting sensory stimulating properties to a receptor contained in a chamber of a container is provided, in which the method is released into a portion of the container and released into the chamber to sense the receptor in the container. Includes the provision of sensory substances that impart stimulating properties.

For purposes of illustration only, embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A container for a snus cigarette pouch with a main fuselage and a removable lid is shown. An example of the container of the present invention provided with a sensory substance is shown. A cross-sectional view of one example of the container of FIG. 2 is shown. Another example of a container of the invention having a liner with a sensory substance is shown. Another example of a container of the invention having an insert with a sensory substance is shown.

FIG. 1 shows a container 1 for a snus tobacco pouch 2 including a main body 3 and a removable lid 4. The examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 relate to round containers, each of which is pocket-sized for consumer convenience, but of course other shapes and sizes are also possible and are defined within the scope of the claims. It falls within the scope of the present invention.

The container can be made of a rigid material. For example, the container may be made of a polymer such as polypropylene, polyethylene, high density polyethylene or acrylic or a metal such as aluminum or tin. Other suitable materials include composite materials such as cellulose acetate or polymer fiber composites. Apart from this, any other rigid and lightweight material is also suitable.

The main fuselage 3 of the container 1 includes a flat bottom wall 5 and a cylindrical side wall 6 extending perpendicular to the bottom wall 5, which define a chamber 7 closed by a removable lid 4. The lid includes a flat top wall 9 having a cylindrical side wall 10 extending perpendicular to the top wall 9. The cylindrical side wall 10 of the lid 4 and the cylindrical side wall 6 of the main body 3 have a push-in fitting relationship in the area where the two overlap so that the lid 4 can be detachably attached to the main body 3. It is configured. As shown in FIG. 1, a step is provided on the side wall 6 of the main body 3 or the side wall 10 of the lid 4 so that the outer peripheral surface of the container assembled when the lid 4 is attached to the main body 3 is flat and smooth. You may.

In this example, the chamber 7 in the container 1 defined between the main fuselage 3 and the lid 4 houses the smokeless snus tobacco products provided in the pouch 2 for consumer convenience as shown in FIG. It is for doing. However, of course, the container 1 of the present invention may instead be used for other products such as snus tobacco in the loose state, cigarettes in the loose state or other tobacco products that are smokeless or non-smokeless. It is also possible to use non-tobacco products such as inert materials containing or not containing nicotine or plants other than tobacco. The smokeless snus tobacco product (or otherwise) contained in the main chamber 7 may be what is known as a receptor.

It is important to maintain the freshness of tobacco products, such as those listed above, from the time of packaging to the time the consumer opens the container and until the product is consumed. One of the characteristics of tobacco is that it is moist and must not be dried in order to remain fresh. Therefore, the main body 3 and the lid 4 of the container shown in FIG. 1 are configured to seal the chamber 7 from the atmosphere outside the container 1. That is, a push-in type is used to sufficiently close the space between the lid 4 and the main body 3 to limit the flow of air through the lid 4. The container may also include a sealing gasket that facilitates airflow restriction.

Of note, in some embodiments, the main body 3 and lid 4 of the container shown in FIG. 1 hermetically seal the chamber 7 from the atmosphere outside the container 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 4 of the container 1 is attached to the main body 3, that is, the fitting between the lid 4 and the main body 3 is a push type, and the consumer closes the container 1. The lid 4 must be pushed into the main fuselage 3. This ensures that the container 1 is well sealed from the external environment and is still removable so that the consumer can open the container and retrieve the product 2. As a matter of course, apart from this, the lid 4 is provided with a screw element on the main body 3 of the container 1 by another method, for example, the lid and the main body so as to engage with each other so that the lid is screwed to the main body. It may be attached by any method. Any other suitable method may be used that allows the lid 4 to be attached to the main fuselage 3.

FIG. 2 shows a first example of the present invention, in which a sensory substance is provided in at least a part of the inner surface of the container 1 similar to that described with reference to FIG. 1 and placed in the container 1. The product is given sensory stimulating properties. Perceptual substances give receptors the properties that are perceived by the senses. In particular, the sensory substance may impart flavor and / or aroma to the receptor.

As shown in FIG. 2, container 1 has a main body 3 and a lid 4 similar to those described with reference to FIG. 1, but other shapes and lid attachment means are also defined in the claims. Included in the invention. The chamber 7 of the container 1 is formed in the space generated between the bottom wall 5 and the side wall 6 of the main body 3 and the top wall 9 and the side wall 10 of the lid 4. Therefore, once the product is placed in the chamber 7, the product may be surrounded and touched by these surfaces.

A part of the material forming the chamber 7 of the container 1 of FIG. 2 is provided with a sensory substance emitted in the chamber 7, whereby the sensory substance is transferred to the products contained in the chamber 7, and the sensory stimulating characteristics are transferred to these products. It will be granted.

In this example, the sensory substance is provided on the inner surfaces of the top wall 9, the bottom wall 5, and the side walls 6 and 10 of the main body 3 and the lid 4. When the product is placed in the chamber 7 in this way and the lid 4 is attached to the main body 3, the perceptual substance is emitted into the chamber 7 and transferred to the product. In addition, the product 2 may be brought into contact with a material provided with the perceptual substance so that the perceptual substance is directly transferred to the product 2.

In the first example of the container described with reference to FIG. 2, at least one of the main fuselage 3 and / or the lid 4 may be made from a material provided with a sensory substance.

The entire main fuselage and / or lid of the container may be made from the material provided with the sensory material, in which case the sensory material is emitted within the area surrounding the container and migrates to any surface in contact with the container, how. It may be made to indicate whether the product has various sensory stimulating characteristics.

In the second example of the container described with reference to FIG. 2, the main body and / or lid of the container may be made of a plurality of layers as shown in FIG. 3, the innermost layer among these layers. Is made from the material provided with the sensory substance. To do this, the container may be manufactured using a multiple shot injection molding method, in which case one molded article is manufactured from a plurality of different materials in a machine cycle. In particular, this method may be used to produce a container having an inner layer to which the perceptual material is provided and an outer layer to which the perceptual material is not provided, as shown in FIG. In this way, the main fuselage and / or lid of the container can provide the sensory substance to the chamber, reducing the emission of the sensory substance from the outer surface of the container 1.

In particular, the container 1 shown in FIG. 3 has the main body 3 and the lid 4 described above with reference to FIG. However, in this case, the main fuselage 3 includes an integral inner layer 11 provided with the sensory material. The integral inner layer 11 covers the bottom surface 20 of the chamber on the bottom wall 5 of the container and the inner surface 21 of the side wall 6 of the container 1. Similarly, the lid 4 also has an integral inner layer 12 to which the sensory material is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner layer 12 of the lid 4 covers only the inner surface 23 of the top wall 9, and does not cover the inner surface 22 of the side wall 10 of the lid 4. However, of course, the various parts of the inner surfaces 20, 21, 22, 23 of the chamber 7 may include materials provided with perceptual material forming the inner layers 11, 12 of the container, which is still claimed. It is included in the present invention defined in the scope. In one example, the perceptual material may be provided only to the material inside the bottom wall 20 of the chamber 7. Separately, an inner layer of the material in which the perceptual substance is provided may be provided only on one part of the surface.

The inner layers 11 and 12 provided with the perceptual material are integrally formed with the main body 3 and the lid 4, respectively, during multiple shot molding, which are formed together in such a way that various materials are fused and cannot be separated. Separately, the inner layers 11 and 12 may be formed separately from the main body 3 and the lid 4, and then combined with the main body 3 and the lid 4. Any other suitable method for making a main fuselage 3 and a lid 4 having inner layers 11 and 12 with sensory material can also be used.

When a product 2 such as a snus pouch is placed in the chamber 7 of the container 1 as shown in FIG. 3, they are directly exposed, surrounded and in contact with the inner layers 11 and 12, and thus the inner layer 11 , The perceptual substance emitted from 12 is transferred to product 2.

Of course, in another example, the perceptual material may be applied to the portion of the container that does not form the innermost surface of the container. For example, a portion of the material and the permeable layer to which the perceptual material is provided using a multiple-shot forming or coating method of the material and the chamber so that the permeable layer forms at least a portion of the surface of the chamber. A container having a permeable layer provided between them may be provided. In this example, the sensory substance released by the portion of the container with the sensory substance passes through the permeable layer and enters the chamber, imparting sensory stimulating properties to the product in the chamber.

FIG. 4 further illustrates the container of the present invention and includes a main fuselage 3 and a lid (not shown) similar to those described with reference to FIG. In this example, the container further includes a liner insert 13, which is a separate member from the main fuselage 3. The main body 3 of the container 1 is made from a material that is not provided with a perceptual substance, such as a polymer or metallic material (or any of the other suitable materials described above with reference to FIG. 1). The liner insert 13 is made from a material provided with the sensory substance so that the sensory substance is transferred to the product 2 contained in the container 1 and imparts sensory stimulating properties to the product 2.

The liner insert 13 may be formed so as to cover at least a part of the inner surface of the bottom wall 5 and the side wall 6 of the main fuselage 3, and at least a part of the chamber 7 may be defined by the liner insert 13. Thus, when the product 2 is placed in the chamber 7, the product 2 approaches or contacts the liner insert 13 to transfer the perceptual material.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the liner insert 13 is formed in a shape that matches the internal shape of the main body 3. The liner insert 13 extends perpendicular to the bottom wall 14 and the bottom wall 14 and has a side wall 15 that defines a space inside that serves as a chamber 7 for accommodating the product. Further, the side wall 15 of the liner insert 13 may include a lip 16 extending from the edge of the side wall 15, so that when the liner insert 13 is housed in the main fuselage, the lip 16 is the edge of the side wall 6 of the main body 3. Extend over the portion 17.

Even if the external dimensions of the liner insert 13 are the same as or very close to the internal dimensions of the main fuselage 3 so that the liner insert 13 fits snugly inside the main fuselage 3 in order to keep the liner insert 13 inside the main fuselage 3. Good. In particular, the liner insert 13 may be fitted into the main body 3 in a push-in manner or a tight fit type so as to remain in the main body 3 after the liner insert 13 is inserted. Separately or additionally, the liner insert 13 may be adhered to the main body 3 so that the liner insert 13 is held by the main body 3.

Of course, apart from this, the liner insert 13 may be housed in the lid of the container in the same manner as described above. Separately, liner inserts 13 are provided on both the main fuselage 3 and the lid, and the entire inner surface of the chamber 7 is formed of the material provided with the sensory substance to increase the surface area for transferring the receptor to the sensory substance. You may.

FIG. 5 shows another example of the container 1 that imparts sensory stimulating properties to the main product in the container 1. In this example, the recess 18 is formed in the bottom wall 5 of the main body 3 of the container 1, and the insert 19 can be inserted into the recess 18. The recess 18 and the insert 19 may have any regular or irregular shape. For example, the recess 18 and the insert 19 shown in FIG. 5 are oval, but may be circular, triangular, or star-shaped.

Similar to the example described with reference to FIG. 4, the main body 3 of the container 1 is made of a material to which no perceptual material is provided, such as a polymer or metal. The insert 19 is made of a material to which the sensory substance is provided, and the sensory substance is emitted from the insert 19 and thereby transferred to the product 2 contained in the container 1 to impart a sensory stimulant substance to the product 2.

The insert 19 may be configured such that the insert 19 and the recess 18 have a push-in type or a tight fit relationship, and when the insert 19 is inserted, the insert 19 stays in the recess 18. Further, an adhesive may be provided between the insert 19 and the recess 18 to keep the insert 19 in a predetermined position. Alternatively, the insert 19 may be loosely fitted into the recess 18 to allow the consumer to stop further transfer of the sensory stimulant or to easily remove the insert 19 to change the insert 19. ..

The thickness of the insert 19 may be the same as the depth of the recess 18 so that the surface of the chamber 7 becomes smooth when the insert 19 is housed in the recess 18. Separately, the thickness of the insert 19 is made larger than the depth of the recess 18, and when the insert 19 is housed in the recess 18, it protrudes into the chamber 7 and the surface area of the material of the insert 19 in the chamber 7 is increased. You may do so. Further, the protruding portion of the insert 19 allows the consumer to grab the insert 19 and remove it from the recess 18. As a matter of course, the recess 18 for accommodating the insert 19 may be formed in the lid of the container 1.

The insert 19 of FIG. 5 or the liner insert 13 of FIG. 4 may be colored to represent the sensory stimulating properties they impart to the product in the container. For example, inserts that impart menthol properties may be colored green.

The insert 19 of FIG. 5 or the liner insert 13 of FIG. 4 is placed in the container 1 during the packing process of the product 2, and the perceptual substance from the material to which the perceptual substance is provided is stored, transferred and sold from the packaging. It may be allowed to move to the receptor until it is opened and all products are consumed. However, of course, the inserts 19 and 13 may be separate from the container 1 so that the consumer can put the inserts 19 and 13 into the container 1 when the consumer desires. Therefore, the consumer can choose when to impart sensory stimulating properties to the product. In this case, a sealing wrapper may be provided on the inserts 13 and 19 to hold the perceptual material in the insert until the wrapper is opened and the insert is placed in the container for use.

The example of the container 1 described with reference to any of FIGS. 2 to 5 imparts sensory stimulating properties to the receptor 2 placed in the container 1. In particular, in each of the examples described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, a sensory substance emitted in a chamber 7 containing a product having sensory stimulating properties is provided in at least a part of the container.

Providing the product 2 in the container 1 with sensory stimulating properties will reduce the decrease in flavor and / or aroma intensity of the product resulting from the product in the container from packaging to the first opening. Therefore, consumers are provided with fresh products the first time they open and the rest of the products remain fresh after the first opening.

In each example of the container described with reference to FIGS. 2-5, at least a portion of the container is provided with a perceptual substance. The material in this portion is provided with the perceptual material by means such as injection, adsorption (adsorption or absorption) or by any other means of providing the perceptual material to the material in such a way that the perceptual material is released from the material.

For example, the material provided with the perceptual material may be made from a polymeric material infused or impregnated with the perceptual material during the manufacture of the material.

Another example of such a material to which the perceptual material is provided may be a polymeric foam, which is exposed to the perceptual material which is formed into the desired shape and then absorbed by it. Perceptual material is retained and gradually released over time. The rate of release may be accelerated by warming the material.

As another example of the material provided with the perceptual substance as described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, a material composed of cellulose acetate fibers that absorb the perceptual substance may be used. The inner layer composed of the two-strike member shown in FIG. 3 or the inserts 13 and 19 of FIGS. 4 and 5 may be made of cellulose acetate fibers that have absorbed a perceptual substance.

Another example of a material on which the perceptual material may be provided may be a plant-absorbing material such as wood, which is a container provided with the perceptual material as described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. All or part of any member may be configured. Wood is a natural absorbent and all adsorbed perceptual substances are gradually released. The wood may be natural or processed wood. Another suitable botanical absorbent may be tobacco material. Naturally, plant absorbers such as wood or tobacco may themselves function as perceptual substances.

The sensory substance provides sensory stimulating properties to the receptors in the container. Perceptual substances are perceived by the senses and impart sensory stimulating properties to the receptors.

The perceptual substance may be a volatile substance such as an aromatic plant substance. In this example, when the perceptual material is released or emitted from the material of the container, the perceptual material evaporates and fills the chamber. When the evaporated sensory substance encounters a receptor, the sensory substance imparts sensory stimulating properties to the product.

Apart from this, the perceptual substance may be a liquid that is gradually released from the material of the container and transferred to the product by contact. The liquid may be an oil or solution that carries the substance and, upon transfer to the receptor, imparts sensory stimulating properties to the receptor.

The sensory substance may provide flavor to Receptor 2. The terms "perceptual substance" and "flavor" as used herein are permitted by local ordinances and refer to materials that can be used to add the taste and aroma desired by adult consumers to a product. Such ingredients include extracts (eg, eucalyptus, citrus, hydrangea, honeybee leaves, chamomile, phenuglique, cloves, menthol, mentha canadensis, aniseed, cinnamon, herbs, mint, cherry, berry, peach, apple, drumbui, etc. Bourbon, Scotch, Whiskey, Sparemint, Peppermint, Lavender, Cardamon, Celoli, Cascarilla, Natsumeg, Sandalwood, Bergamot, Geranium, Honey Extract, Rose Oil, Vanilla, Lemon Oil, Orange Oil, Cassia, Caraway, Cognac, Jasmine, Iran Irannoki, sage, uikyo, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), seasonings, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants , Sugars and / or sugar substituents (eg, sucralose, acesulfam potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclaminetate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, mannitol, etc.) Other additives such as. These materials may be imitations, synthetic or natural ingredients, or blends thereof. These materials may be in any suitable form, such as oils, liquids, powders and the like.

Separately, the sensory stimulating property may be a scent such as a menthol scent or another scent. The menthol sensory substance produces a refreshing sensation and provides flavor and / or aroma when the product into which it is injected is consumed or used. Naturally, any combination of sensory stimulating properties may be provided by a sensory substance that acts to scent the air in the chamber so that the consumer can smell the sensory substance when opening the container. ..

Of note, in some embodiments (not shown), the chamber 7 may be divided into any number of subchambers for storage of the receptor. In this case, different sensory substances may be provided on at least a part of the inner surface of each subchamber so that different sensory stimulus characteristics are attached to the receptor in the different subchambers. The receptors in each subchamber may be the same or different.

Also, of course, any number of receptors may be used in some embodiments.

In order to address various problems and develop technology, the entire disclosure illustrates various embodiments, in which the claimed invention can be practiced to provide an excellent container. it can. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are merely representative examples of embodiments and are neither comprehensive nor exclusive. These are provided merely as an aid to the understanding and teaching of the claimed features. Of course, the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the present disclosure limit the disclosure as set forth in the claims or are equivalents of the claims. It should not be considered to be limited to, and it should be considered that other embodiments may be used or modified without departing from the scope and / or ideas of the present disclosure. Various embodiments may appropriately include, be composed of, or are essentially composed of the disclosed components, components, features, parts, processes, means and other combinations. The present disclosure also includes other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims (13)

A container containing a main fuselage and a lid that defines a chamber for receptors, at least part of the main fuselage and / or lid made of a material containing a sensory substance, from which the sensory substance is released into the chamber. And thereby translocating to the receptors in the chamber, imparting sensory stimulating properties to the receptors, at least a portion of the main fuselage and / or lid further comprising an insert housed in the container, which insert is made from a material comprising a sensory material released into the chamber, the chamber has the main body and / or recess inner surface is recessed form of the lid, the container in which the insert is received in said recess .. The container according to claim 1, wherein the main body is made of a material containing the perceptual substance. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid is made of a material containing the perceptual substance. The container according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the container includes a permeable layer arranged between a main body and / or a lid portion made of a material containing the perceptual substance and the chamber. .. The container according to claim 1, wherein the insert is housed in a main body of the container, and the insert defines at least a part of an inner surface of the chamber. The fifth aspect of claim 5, wherein the insert is formed into a shape that matches the internal shape of the main body, whereby the insert is housed in the main body and covers the inner surface of the main body to define the chamber. container. The container according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the insert is formed into a shape different from the internal shape of the main body, whereby the insert covers only a part of the inner surface of the chamber. The container according to claim 1, wherein the insert is formed in a shape that matches the internal shape of the lid, whereby the insert is housed in the lid and covers the inner surface of the lid to define the chamber. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the chamber contains one or more receptors. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the receptor is a smokeless tobacco product. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the receptor is a snus tobacco product. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the container has a pocket size. A method of imparting sensory stimulating properties to receptors contained in a chamber of a container containing a main body and a lid.
At least part of the main fuselage and / or lid is made of a material containing a sensory substance, which is released from this material into the chamber, which migrates to the receptors in the chamber, giving the receptors sensory stimulating properties. Including the step of imparting, at least a portion of the main fuselage and / or lid comprises an insert housed in the container, which insert is made from a material containing a sensory substance released into the chamber and said chamber. has the main body and / or recess inner surface is recessed form of the lid, wherein said insert is accommodated in said recess.

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